Have you given much thought to the air you breathe in your home? With Ontario humidity, it may seem odd to consider not having enough in your home, but our winters can dry out your home, your throat, and nasal passages – affecting your health and comfort. Installing a humidifier in your home can help you live more comfortably.

What is a Humidifier?

In short, a humidifier is used to add moisture by releasing water vapor to a room or area, therefore increasing the humidity. Just as dry air can worsen respiratory problems, too much humidity can cause health problems as well. Ensuring that you have the right level of humidity in your entire house can make the cold winter months a lot more comfortable and enjoyable for you and your family. It is recommended that the ideal humidity level is between 30 and 50 percent.

Newer homes typically do not have a humidifier installed. However, you may not need one because the foundation and wood framing is still drying out, releasing moisture into the air. New homes are “tight”, which means the air within them hangs around for a while before being replaced by dry exterior air. The air is around long enough to pick up moisture from things like hot water showers, cooking, drying clothes, and breathing. On the other end, older houses are drafty. Older homes are more prone to cracks letting in cold, dry air forcing the warmer air out.

Let’s take a look at 4 reasons you need a humidifier.

1 – You Suffer From Respiratory Issues

If you suffer from respiratory illness such as asthma or sinuses a humidifier will help. Low humidity irritates the throat, nasal cavities, and can exacerbate respiratory conditions. If you suffer from respiratory discomfort or allergy symptoms there could be more at play than the pollen and allergens outside. The humidity level in your home plays a large part in your comfort level and can even affect how well you’re able to manage respiratory problems, as well as recover from the common cold and flu. A humidifier will add back moisture to the air and prevent the drying out that can cause dry mouth, a bloody nose, and scratchy throat irritations.

What if the humidity is too high?

Excess moisture can lead to mold and mildew problems, which can compromise the health of your family. Extra humidity also creates a breeding ground for bacterial growth. The easiest way to prevent these toxins is through maintaining proper humidity. While optimal humidity levels can offer relief from allergies and asthma symptoms, the presence of mold, mildew, and bacteria will make them worse.

What if the humidity is too low?

When the air moisture level in our homes is too low, it can allow viruses, other airborne toxins, and allergens to thrive. Individuals who live in homes without adequate humidity tend to experience more sore throats, dry skin,  illnesses, and other allergy symptoms.  If your home’s humidity levels drop below 30%, you should use a humidifier to raise moisture levels improving indoor air quality. Using a humidifier is not enough, your system has to be cleaned and maintained in order to improve your health.

2 – Your Furnace is in Constant Use

There’s a good chance that if your furnace is in constant use, you need a humidifier. Running your furnace consistently over the winter months can cause the humidity level to drop. The reason is that as air from the room is being pulled into the furnace, it is being replaced by cooler, drier air from the outdoors. Without a humidifier to replace the moisture removed through this process, you and your family may unnecessarily suffer.

3 – The Wood Floors and Furniture are Drying Out

Your wood floors and furniture can be a strong indicator that you are in need of a humidifier. When the air is dry, wood shrinks. When it is moist, wood expands.  A sign of low humidity is that the wood floors and furniture are drying out because of the low moisture content. This can cause permanent damage to the wood in the form of cracking and splitting as well as unsightly gaps. A professionally installed humidifier can prevent any damage to your home.

4 – Your Hygrometer Says So

A hygrometer is used to determine the indoor humidity level in an area. A hygrometer does not have the ability to change the humidity level of a room but is instead a very useful tool for indicating whether there is too much moisture or the air is too dry. The hygrometer is the most important tool in determining if your home has acceptable humidity levels. If your hygrometer says the air is too dry, a humidifier can increase the humidity level.

Types of Humidifiers

Humidifiers come in all shapes, sizes, and methods of moisture distribution. The Tankless Experts can help guide you in choosing the best type of humidifier for your home based on your needs. Whether you need a small portable humidifier designed to work in a single room or a whole-house humidifier.

How do you choose one, should your home need a humidifier?

Humidifiers are offered in 4 common categories.

  • Warm Mist Humidifiers
  • Cool Mist Humidifiers
  • Ultrasonic Humidifiers
  • Whole-house humidifiers

Warm mist humidifiers work by heating water from a reservoir. These humidifiers release a warm, soothing mist into the air. They are most effective in the treatment of cold weather ailments such as the cold and flu. Warm mist humidifiers cover the smallest area of the four common types. They require the most regular cleaning due to the high-temperature mist being susceptible to bacteria growth.

Cool mist humidifiers work on a filter system. These humidifiers pull water from a reservoir through a wick to a fam which distributes the mist into the air. They are noisier than warm mist humidifiers due to the use of a fan, however are much easier to clean and maintain. Cool mist humidifiers use a filtration system so replacing the filter regularly is a must.

Ultrasonic humidifiers release moisture into the air by creating water droplets using ultrasonic speed pans. They essentially separate water into droplets by shaking water at high speeds then blowing these droplets through a fan. Ultrasonic humidifiers are low maintenance, quiet humidifier options for covering a small area.

Whole-house humidifiers are the mother of all humidifiers. They come in all the previous distribution methods but on a much larger scale. These humidifiers can be portable or attached to your home HVAC system. Due to their size, they require the lowest amount of water maintenance. They still need to be cleaned and filters replaced to prevent any bacterial or allergen buildup.

Professional Solutions

When it comes to finding the right humidifier solution for your situation, trust the industry leaders. Tankless Experts is dedicated to offering informed advice, an affordable humidifier option, and solutions based on your unique needs. We carry and service various types of humidifiers capable of covering and size room or home. Contact us today for more information and a free, no obligation estimate!